Travel cost calculator results

Step 2: Review estimated total trip costs

NOTES:
  • The kilometre value you entered (3.6) is automatically doubled to make it a round trip ().
  • A transit ticket only costs $3.40 per trip for you, but there are costs shared by everyone through taxes, to purchase buses and C-Trains, pay operators and maintain infrastructure.
  • The calculator does not include the value of time as a cost, but reports the estimated travel time of each travel option. This will vary by user, and should be considered in conjunction with the cost amount.
  • Wondering how the costs are calculated? See our FAQ below.
  • Travel times are calculated using an overall average city-wide speed and may not represent a given route.

* A negative value represents the health benefit from physical activity in terms of less sick days, doctor visits or diseases.

Click here to see cost details ​​

Recalculate

Step 3: View per kilometre details

The table shows the total cost per km (you + society) for each travel option. For example, transit fare ticket costs are averaged as a per km economic cost to you. See Frequently Asked Questions for more details about the data used.

* indicates a health benefit to you and/or society

Transportation estimated cost details. This table displays the breakdown of the values used to calculate the personal and societal costs for each mode of transportation.
 
Travel cost calculator categories Walking Cycling Public Transit Driving
Costs to you
(per km) 		Economic
(maintenance, purchases, fuel, insurance, tires, licence, registration and parking costs)
Environmental
(fuel tax)
Health
(value of physical activity to reduce diseases)
Sub Total of personal cost per km
Costs to society
(per km) 		Economic
(costs to build, maintain and operate the transportation network, congestion and collision vehicle damage)
Environmental
(Air, water, noise and GHG pollutants)
Health
(healthcare system savings from active transportation)
Sub Total of society cost per km
Total costs
(to you and society) 		Total cost per kilometre
Kilometres entered (x2)
The TCC multiplied kilometres entered by 2 to calculate the round trip results below.
Total cost of round trip
Note: A negative value represents a health benefit to you and/or society.
Average cost of round trip per week
Average cost of round trip per month
Average cost of round trip per year
Travel time
Emissions reduction from using active transportation or public transit compared to driving 100% 100% 99% 0%
% of World Health Organizations's recommended daily physical activity
(transit and driving include values for walking to/from starting/ending point) 		% % % %

Step 4: Help make Calgary better

Research shows that cities across the world are encouraging more sustainable transportation choices that cost less to build and maintain, and contribute to healthier people and healthier cities. Now that you’ve learned more about the full travel cost of your trip, we want to know how much progress you think The City should make to improve travel choices and other qualities for Calgarians.

Share your input here

 

Learn more

  • Walking and cycling

    Use Calgary's pathways and bikeways to improve or maintain your health and help ease traffic congestion

  • Calgary Transit

    Our new transit network offers more direct routes, service to key destinations and makes travel easier.

  • Carpooling

    Use Calgary's pathways and bikeways to improve or maintain your health and help ease traffic congestion

Frequently Asked Questions

What transportation options are used in the Travel Cost Calculator?

Transportation Option Description
Walking Refers to a person travelling by foot at an average speed of 5 km/hr.
Cycling Refers to a person travelling by bicycle at an average speed of 16 km/hr.
Public Transit Refers to a person travelling by bus/Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) at an average speed of 22 km/hr.
  • This refers to the average of all bus and LRV models operated by Calgary Transit, including compressed natural gas, gasoline, and diesel-powered buses and shuttles in a variety of sizes and electric powered LRV.
Driving Refers to a person travelling by automobile at an average speed of 52 km/hr. Travel speed varies significantly based on time of day, weather, congestion and collisions.
  • ​Automobile represents an average of various personal (i.e. non-commercial) automobile models, including compact, crossover intermediate, luxury, pickup, sport, subcompact, SUV, and van.
  • These don't include electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles or motorcycles.
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How are costs calculated?

The TCC was created using a combination of City data and external research. It is meant to raise awareness of available travel options and the impacts to the environment, our health and the economy.

The two main sources of data are:

  1. The City of Calgary Transportation Department.
  2. Transportation Cost and Benefit Analysis Techniques, Estimates and Implications (2016) by Todd Alexander Litman and Eric Doherty from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute.
Component​ Description of personal cost components
Economic
  • The costs to operate and maintain a chosen option. Costs include purchases, maintenance, repair, fuel, tires, insurance, license, registration, parking and transit fares.
  • The personal risk of injury or death from using a chosen option. Costs include injuries, and fatalities attributed to medical expenses, pain, suffering and loss of life.
Environmental
  • The cost of fuel tax of .13/L.
Health
  • The value of physical activity in preventing injury and disease.
Component Description of society cost components
Economic
  • The costs of roadway congestion imparted on other people.
  • The capital cost of building major and minor infrastructure.
  • The costs to operate and maintain the transportation network. Transit costs are balanced by revenue generated from transit fares.
  • The cost of collisions involving vehicle damages.
Environmental
  • The cost of pollutants emitted from motorized travel. These calculations include air pollution, greenhouse gas, noise emissions, water pollution and land use impacts.
Health
  • The savings to the healthcare system resulting from using active transportation.
  • The savings from increased workplace productivity (i.e. fewer sick days) resulting from using active transportation.
  • The cost of collisions involving personal injury or death.
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How can I calculate my driving costs in more detail?

The automobile operating and maintenance costs used in the TCC were calculated using the Canadian Automobile Association Driving Costs Calculator. Please visit https://carcosts.caa.ca/ to calculate your individual automobile costs.​

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For additional information about the Travel Cost Calculator, contact 311.

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This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically. ​

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